Internet priority call device

A stand alone telephony device for interfacing an online computer user, modem and incoming telephone calls, the telephony device being attached to a modem, telephone set, and telephone line utilizing the feature of Call Waiting, said device comprising:

• a) a switching means for connecting a telephone line to a telephone set and a computer modem;
• b) a signal means for alerting the user of the presence of an incoming telephone call on said telephone line;
• c) a processor for detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal on said telephone line while said modem is connected to said telephone line and controllably operating said switch means and said signal means, and means for determining caller identification along with said incoming telephone call;
• d) said means for determining caller identification further includes means for screening incoming telephone calls and initiating said signal means to alert said user to incoming calls that match predetermined caller identifications and ignoring incoming calls that do not match said predetermined caller identifications;
• e) an off-hook detection means for detecting when said telephone set is in use as a result of the user being alerted to the incoming telephone call;
• f) means for connecting the modem to a hold bus when the off-hook detection means detects that the telephone set is in use;
• and
• g) connection means for connecting said telephone line, modem, and telephone set to said device.

A method of interfacing a computer user, a telephone set, a modem and incoming telephone calls with a telephone line stand alone switch device utilizing the features of Call Waiting and Caller ID, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a telephone device for controllably switching a telephone line between a modem and a telephone set;
• b) detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal received while said modem is connected to said telephone line, said signal indicative of an incoming telephone call;
• c) disconnecting said modem from the telephone line and temporarily placing the modem on hold;
• d) temporarily placing the telephone line on-hook so that Caller ID data can be received;
• e) reconnecting the modem to the telephone line after receiving said Caller ID data;
• f) filtering said incoming Caller ID data by using predetermined Caller Identification data;
• g) notifying the user of incoming telephone calls wherein the Caller ID data matches said predetermined Caller Identification data;
• and
• h) if the user decides to accept the call, disconnect the modem from the telephone line and connect the telephone set to the line.